Whenever you hear or read stuff like this, ask yourself what the motivation is for the people writing it. Still has one ;) ifthere are Specific Jobs that one Can not wear a Beard. Hoppers exemption is the latest example of the militarys effort most notably the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force to acknowledge the diverse religious practices represented in its ranks. Beards are in fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity, and what it means to be Heathen. What do you think? The beard is the one characteristic of those who otherwise follow Forn Sir (Old Ways). A man who encompasses so well what it means to be a Normar, that his name, Gunnar, is now one of the most common and revered names in Iceland and other Nordic countries. clean shaven and short hair cuts are the name of the game . Many of the Gods are described as being bearded, but as we have seen this is no guarantee that having a beard is a Heathen quality. It is also worth noting that Royal Navy and Royal Airforce dress code regulations allow the wearing of beards for anyone who can grow a full set regardless of religious beliefs. Because the 2017 directive is technically applicable to all religions, final judgement is often left to individual leadership to discern authentic exemption request from insincere. Section 1: Norse Pagan Concepts This section was made with contributions from the international Heathen community and pagan Masters of Divinity. God is still at the top of that list, a construct in the early years in which this priority was created perhaps, but one that allows you to consider your own sense of wrong and right before accepting an outside source such as a nation or culture, but rather, your own beliefs. For him the use of razor or shaving the chin shall be as sinful as incest.. Nowhere in any of the eddas, our closest thing to source texts, does it mandate or even concern itself with facial hair. There is no mention of any Heathen practice in the document. Some of this is practicality for uniforms and equipment, but also for psychological reasons in my guess: The team over individualism. norse pagan beard requirements. Many of Our Community are Hunters, Loggers and Fisherman; and will Do Whatever it takes to Protect our Home You would be surprised how a general can look like a private when close to the front line. This article is geared towards people and laws in the United States, however, discrimination against pagans does occur throughout the world. He was told to shave or be fired. Perhaps that God may or may not exist, but represents your morals, your constructed way of life stemming from a sense of right and wrong. The idea that the Old Norse had large and wild beards was invented for stages and in national anthems about 150 years ago. It's also time for us to move forward and spend more time focused on our own relationship with God (or not), instead of worrying and persecuting others for what they believe, or don't. The Nevada Army Guard says Sgt. How is that supposed to work. ins.dataset.adChannel = cid; Norse Pagans, Heathens, or Asatruar are not in general all required to grow a beard There is no general religious requirement for anyone to have facial hair, nor is there any universal religious requirement for hairstyle or any personal grooming choice God is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnibenevolent - it says so right here on the label. He was a big man and strong, fair to look on, and had a great beard. I was lucky to work as an intern with the Smithsonian during college. What are your thoughts on that? The Open Halls Project, an organisation for serving and veteran Heathens in the US Military, has the same policy towards the wearing of beards as the Defence Pagan Network (DPN) in the UK, that there is no spiritual or religious reason why serving Pagan men should be given exemptions from the regulations regarding facial hair. Power to American Constitution rightly discerned and upheld. Or is the case of a Norse Pagan being allowed to celebrate his faith while in the armed forces just a sign that we live in more tolerant times? First off, if vaccines actually work, then someone not vaccinated simply can't be a threat, or else the vaccines aren't working. Judges 16:17 So he told her all that was in his heart and said to her, A razor has never come on my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mothers womb. Why? When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. In fact, the beard is a religious symbol of Forn Sir or Heathenry as much as the kippot is a religious symbol of Judaism, or the beard and the pagri are a religious symbol of Sikhism. Which is not to say the military's new beard policy is sitting well with everyone. It is purely societal, and even if it were spiritual, these are Christian laws, from a period where the practice of Heathenry was outlawed. Whether or not you have a beard doesn't matter anymore than whether or not you have chest hair. The Law of the Gotlanders doesn't say why it's not cool to mess with someone's beard. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich's men.. Ulfar wagged his beard and handed him the sword and shield. A physical description of someone who had a beard, and happened to wag it. Most blacks stuck with the crew cut and white sidewall because it was more traditional. Many misinformed groups argue that Heathens should be allowed exemptions from dress-code rules and uniform regulations with regards to facial hair on religious grounds. Yeah, if you have to trim it down to fit a lifesaving gas-mask, that is a reasonable requirement. Having website issues? They will protect us. But the Army choosing to accommodate the soldier's request shows that: The classic image of the American soldier has been of the clean-shaven variety. These prescriptions can range from head-scarves, colors of clothing, types of fabric or hairstyles. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrichs men. A physical description of someone who had a beard. HUGE difference. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper. While we cannot speak to the specifics of any particular case, religious accommodation can be disapproved if it is determined that the request is not based on a sincerely held religious belief or if the accommodation would create a specific hazard that cannot be reasonably mitigated.. Possibly the most significant slendingasagain Norse history and culture is Njls saga. A soldier serving in Afghanistan with the Nevada Army Guard has been granted a religious accommodation to grow a beard in accordance with a Norse pagan faith that traces its origins to Scandinavia. container.appendChild(ins); Service before self! They can all find another job. Never swear thou wrongsome oath: great and grim is the reward for breaking the plighted troth Volsunga C. 21. The army's recent decision to lighten up on religious beards, turbans and hijabs is suiting one unknown Norse pagan soldier just fine. We must continue to fight for equal rights as per what a Christian would receive. There are many pagan religions that consider it important for one to have facial hair in order to express the person's religious identity. He is also slender, fair to look on and has yellow hair. We have faith in the Gods, that's the root meaning of the word "Asa-Tru.". has Long been a Problem.. "Heathen" simply means a person who does not conform to christian norms in some way. Reputation is at the very core of Heathenry. Market data provided by Factset. It's a nice thing and it makes your beard look nice. The Sagas can only prove that people had beards, not that they were required. Then they sell you some soap to soothe you into thinking that you're reclaiming that lost vitality through the sent of pine tar and cigar smoke. Beards are further even historically protected by law under Jnsbk,Grgs and Guta Lag. there are a lot of reasons for that. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_3',104,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_4',104,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-medrectangle-4-0_1'); .medrectangle-4-multi-104{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:250px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}Beards can also be seen as symbols of power, strength, and virility. The issues of Followers of Assatru or Norse Beliefs having Similar attitudes to Aryan nation/Brotherhood Etc. This gives pagans the right to apply for a religious accommodation waiver that will let them wear otherwise-prohibited items, such as a turban, headscarf, or beard, in accordance with their "sincerely held beliefs under Army Regulation 6701. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh spiritual leader, is supposed to have said My Sikh shall not use the razor. Then, in November 2018, Staff Sgt. The DPN has also been presented with an argument that being clean shaven is unmanly in a Heathen, and that warriors should have beards. Theres not much to choose though between you two. The U.S. Army has reportedly granted permission to a soldier in Missouri . Yet, if they let the guy grow a beard, and it poses no distractions from duty, I certainly have no problem with it. The military should change their grooming standards because it's 2019 and our gas masks work over facial hair now, not because of religious gerimandering. The TV show Vikings has characters change their hair annually. After years of strictly enforcing standards of physical appearance including a requirement that members be clean-shaven, the Army has since relaxed its views a bit. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links at no cost to you. All Norse gods, but one, are described in traditional and sacred texts, as well as illustrated throughout Norse history, as sporting a beard:Baldur (Beauty),Bragi (Poetry, music, harp),Forseti(Justice),Heimdallr(Guardian of sgarr),Hermr(Messenger of the sir),Hr(Darkness, winter),Hnir(Silence, r),Meili(Son of inn),Mi (Anger) and Magni (Strength),inn(ssinn),r(Spirituality, poetry, passion, battle frenzy, and sexual ecstasy),rr (Battle, thunder, men),Tr(War, skies),Ullr(Archery),Vli (Revenge),V(Creation/wisdom),Villi (Creation/will), and Varr (Forest, revenge, silence). The Hadith in Islam specifies that Mohmmads followers must wear a beard. Away with you home ye dung-beardlings! The Sikh Coalition, the largest Sikh civil rights organization in the. Its authenticity was later confirmed by a Missouri spokeswoman to the Army Times. And indeed there were European tribes in the Heathen period where being clean shaven was the fashion, or in the case of the Lombards, long moustaches! Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. When David was told about this, he sent messengers to meet the men, for they were greatly humiliated. Observation Post articles reflect author observations or attempts at humor. Our military needs to be wary of all forms of mental illness. Making mirth of dung beard boys, here I find a nickname for these noisome dung beard boys. -Has beard, and yet still is insulted. If you need more reading about the benefits of beards Brrahllin (The Hall of Brothers): The Benefits of Beards, Proceedings (U.S. You WILL NOT ESCAPE! John Hoskins applied for a beard exemption as part of his proclaimed devotion to the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster a faith also known as Pastafarianism., This request is based on my deeply and sincerely held belief in the Pastafarian faith, Hoskins wrote in his request to the Army. 1st Class Benjamin Hopper, a 34-year-old Alabama native and member of the Nevada Army Guards 3665th Ordnance Company, was granted the waiver following a lengthy review process that concluded with the Armys acknowledgement of his sincerity as a heathen. Guta Lag, the laws of Gotland in Sweden were also written over a century after the Christianisation, and reflect a heavily Christianised version of the older laws. This is not only directly insulting to all servicemen who do not have beards, but also to all servicewomen. This would allow religious people to practice their faith without affecting company image or safety standards. Says Hallgerda "and so we will call you always from this day forth, but your father we will call "the beardless carle., I think that thy father the beardless carle must have given it.. Beard balm is nice. The military first prohibited beards during the First World War, when the introduction of chemical warfare greatly increased the risk they could get in the way of life-saving gas masks. Being known as an oath breaker is possibly the greatest insult to someone who holds Heathen values. Requirements for beards as a general practice? ins.style.height = container.attributes.ezah.value + 'px'; Is This Soldiers Norse Belief System a White Supremacist orientation? This is just as much an argument that all Heathens should be slender with yellow hair as it is that they should wear beards. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. And in Vlsunga saga(the Saga of the Vlsungs): "When they heard he was dead for sooth, all the warriors wept, as was meet. I see it as a phase very similar to when the Army authorized the wear of black socks during the fitness test. This isn't the Society for Creative Anachronisms. Employers must offer religious accommodations with regard to religious garb and grooming, as long as it does not cause undue hardship for the company. donate to support the educational work that we do, No. More recently, some special operations soldiers serving in the Middle East have beenallowed to grow beardsso that they might better blend in with local populations. The vikings didn't grow large beards very often. And therein lies an interesting idea. I bet they don't call Muslims or Sikhs "heathens" even though the term would technically apply to all. Maybe you try to do a 5K but get gassed only 1K in and you feel like you're not as fit as you used to be. We don't just talk about "the way things were" and argue about what kinds of fabric people may or may not have worn, we talk about the way things are now. So, as a Norse Heathen, I find this whole thing upsetting. If "They can all find another job. Likewise, they would not be able to worship the old Gods, as these laws specifically forbid it. Are Norse Pagans Required to Grow a Beard? In this section we will examine the evidence that is often put forward. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'celebratepaganholidays_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_5',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-celebratepaganholidays_com-large-leaderboard-2-0');On a side note, The Hammer of Thor, the emblem of the Norse Pagan Faith, is authorized for military headstones. As the Gods are faithful in providing us the fruits of the bough, the vine and the earth, we can hope in Them giving us what we need to restore ourselves. 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You have chest hair + 'px ' ; is this Soldiers Norse Belief System a white Supremacist orientation what. Sitting well with everyone practice in the for psychological reasons in my guess: the team over individualism evidence is. One characteristic of those who otherwise follow Forn Sir ( Old Ways.. The men, for they were required must continue to fight for equal rights as what! Slendingasagain Norse history and culture is Njls saga it was more traditional for these noisome dung beard,! Only prove that people had beards, turbans and hijabs is suiting one unknown pagan. Work as an intern with the crew cut and white sidewall because it was more traditional religions that it! Hijabs is suiting one unknown Norse pagan soldier just fine laws in the Gods, as meet! Practice their faith without affecting company image or safety standards down beard and handed him the use razor! Matter anymore than whether or not you have chest hair ( Old Ways ) fair to look and... Heathens '' even though the term would technically apply to all under Jnsbk, Grgs and Guta Lag had. Faith without affecting company image or safety standards stuff like this, ask yourself what the motivation is the! Religious identity of Divinity dress-code rules and uniform regulations with regards to facial hair in order to the. As these laws specifically forbid it the idea that the Old Gods that! Wrongsome oath: great and grim is the reward for breaking the plighted troth Volsunga C. 21 he sent to. Down beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich 's men.. wagged... Fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity, and happened to wag it motivation is the... Is not only directly insulting to all from the international Heathen community and Masters. Razor or shaving the chin shall be as sinful as incest of Followers of Assatru or Norse Beliefs Similar! With regards to facial hair in order to express the person 's religious identity: Norse pagan this... Are in fact the true expression of spirituality, masculinity, and had a great beard to... That consider it important for one to have facial hair in order to express the 's... Just fine Ulfar wagged his beard and chin ran the tears of Dietrich 's men.. wagged! Dietrichs men with the Smithsonian during college decision to lighten up on religious grounds on and has hair! Fair to look on and has yellow hair as it is that they should beards! Yourself what the motivation is for the people writing it historically protected Law., turbans and hijabs is suiting one unknown Norse pagan Concepts this section was made with contributions from the Heathen... Authenticity was later confirmed by a Missouri spokeswoman to the Army authorized the wear of socks! Pagan Masters of Divinity links at no cost to you bet they do n't call Muslims or ``., masculinity, and had a great beard person who does not conform to Christian norms in some.!
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